The problems caused by Blackberry yesterday have prompted these thoughts. The whole world seemed to be talking about (not emailing I might add) the fact that the Blackberry network was not working and nobody could use BBM and Twitter etc from their phones.
I got me thinking to the days before mobile phones and how peaceful it was.
When you left the office - you left
When you got to work - you where at work
Business still coped and things got done. If you went out for a day you where out and you could not be reached.
When I was a student I worked as a cycle courier in London. We used two way radios to communicate. You woke up and turned it on then waited for your call sign before you set off.
It all seemed easy and less stressful then - if you rang someone and they where out that was it. Now if you send a text and dont get an immediate response you feel as though the person has fallen out with you or are not talking to you.
Our whole way of communication has changed beyond recognition in 15 years.
Now we must answer a text before anything else
If the mobile rings it has to be answered
We check for emails every five minutes
We check Twitter and Facebook for updates and mentions
We are available 24 hours a day.
My boss texted me the other day at about 11.30 pm
"you up" he said
"I am now" I replied
The phone was next to my bed - the alarm clock
I am not decrying mobile technology because I would not be without mine - I am just thinking back to the days when people talked and not texted, when people worked 8 hours and then went home.
I wonder what the next 15 years will bring and how things will move forward again.
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